When you're known as a defensive coach, one could expect every conversation to be about moving your feet, keeping your hands up and “Help side!” being shouted.
But Hanover Central coach Bryon Clouse had a chat with Dan Kubiak recently. It was short and sweet.
“We need more out of you. You you need to score more.”
Kubiak was coming off back-to-back four-point games against Griffith and Kankakee Valley.
“I think it must've worked,” Clouse said.
At the Hamilton Heights Holiday Tournament, Kubiak scored 20 and 18 in two games.
“Dan was one of those kids everyone said was too soft to play for me,” said Clouse, in his first year at Hanover. “But he's surprised a lot of people. He had a little slump there, but he came back at Hamilton. We need him to bring it every time we're out there.”
Tonight, Hanover Central will play Morton in The Times 14th annual Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.
Kubiak brings a 12-point and 7-rebound average into the game.
“He hit eight 3s in that tournament and had about 15 rebounds,” Clouse said. “He really raised his game.”
Dan Kubiak said he was influenced by his older brother, Tim Kubiak, who played basketball for the Wildcats a few years back.
As a lad Dan was following his older brother to all kinds of games and he learned.
He plays volleyball, hoops and golfs at Hanover.
As a child, Michael Jordon was his hero, even though he never saw him play live.
“I heard all the stories,” Kubiak said. “I heard everyone say how great he was.”
Kubiak is glad that Clouse arrived as the Wildcats' coach. He knows things are a lot different now.
“He's way more team-oriented,” Kubiak said. “He doesn't want just one guy to shoot and score. He wants the whole team to be involved.”
Kubiak is on the National Honor Society and is also vice president of Hanover's student council.
He wants his team to stop the bad streak and restart the success tonight.
“We need to focus on our defense more,” Kubiak said. “We need to do what coach wants us to. I need to help out with rebounds more and keep helping out on offense.”
If not, Clouse and he will surely being having a talk again.
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